Published: Jan 10, 2016, 08:44 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 31, 2016, 11:43 AM (IST)
Hello and Welcome to CricketCountry’s live coverage of the second of the two-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series between hosts Afghanistan and visitors Zimbabwe at the Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium on Friday. I am Rishad D’Souza, and I will be bringing you all the live updates from this tie. This will be the concluding match of the series and the visitors Zimbabwe will look to end on a high after a largely demoralising series. They lost the One-Day International (ODI) series by a 3-2 margin. Following that, they lost the first of the two T20Is falling ever so short of the target. Live Cricket Scorecard: Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe 2015-16, 2nd T20I at Sharjah
Afghanistan register a thumping 81-run over Zimbabwe in the second T20I and also win the series 2-0. Here’s the match report
Live Cricket Score Zimbabwe 134 | Overs 18.1| TARGET 216 | Batting: Luke Jongwe 5 (2), Graeme Cremer 1 (1): it’s all over as Afghanistan win the match by 81 runs and also with the two-match series 2-0. The bowlers bowled extremely well after after and backed up the efforts of their batsmen, led by Mohammad Shahzad’s 118. OUT! Luke Jongwe c Stanikzai b Shirzad 5 (3), Graeme Cremer c Ghani b Shirzad 3 (4), Tendai Chisoro run out 10 (7)
Live Cricket Score Zimbabwe 119/7 | Overs 16| TARGET 216 | Batting: Luke Jongwe 5 (2), Graeme Cremer 1 (1): After a fighting innings, Moor is finally dismissed off the bowling of Dawlat Zadran. He was looking to clear the fielders inside the circle, but Ghani takes the catch at the end of the circle at point. Masakadza too follows Moor back into the pavilion and is bowled by Rashid Khan for a well made 44-ball 63. Two new batsmen at the crease and it seems like Afghanistan will cruise to a win again. OUT! Peter Moor c Ghani b Dawlat 35 (32), Hamilton Masakadza b Rashid Khan 63 (44)
Live Cricket Score Zimbabwe 89/5 | Overs 13| TARGET 216 | Batting:Hamilton Masakadza 41 (33), Peter Moor 34 (28): Zimbabwe manage to get 17 off Gulbadin Nabib’s first over but still need a lot of big hits, if they are to get anywhere close to the target. It will be a mircale indeed if they manage to get there. 50 partnership between Moor and Masakadza.
Live Cricket Score Zimbabwe 59/5 | Overs 10| TARGET 216 | Batting:Hamilton Masakadza 31 (27), Peter Moor 14 (16): Zimbabwe accelerate a bit but still have a mountain to climb as the required run rate nears 16. Afghanistan bowlers have done a splendid job so far and will look to wrap up the innings soon.
Live Cricket Score Zimbabwe 36/5 | Overs 7| TARGET 216 | Batting:Hamilton Masakadza 22 (19), Peter Moor 1 (6): Zimbabwe sink deeper and deeper as they lose two more wickets in that over from Mohammad Nabi. Raza was the first to go after having danced down the track and missed the ball. Shahzad completes yet another easy stumping in the match. A ,ot was expected of Chigumbura, but he was hideously run out for a duck. Peter Moor is the new batsman. OUT! Sikandar Raza st Shahzad b Nabi 1 (5), Elton Chigumbura run out 0 (2)
Live Cricket Score Zimbabwe 34/3 | Overs 5| TARGET 216 | Batting:Hamilton Masakadza 21 (16), Sikandar Raza 1 (4): Zimbabwe in deep, seep trouble as Amir Hamza picks up two wickets in two balls. He first gets rid of Mutumbami, who is stumped for 1 and follows it up with the wicket of the dangerous Malcom Waller for a duck. Afghanistan very much on top now. OUT! Richard Mutumbami st Shahzad b Hamza 1 (3), Malcom Waller LBW b Shahzad 0 (1)
Live Cricket Score Zimbabwe 18/1| Overs 3| TARGET 216 | Batting:Hamilton Masakadza 8 (11), Richard Mutumbami 1 (1): Afghanistan stike early as Chamu Chibhabha in pursuit of some quick runs mistimes a pull short and is caught at square leg. Zimbabwe will need a partnership as Richard Mutumbami walks in. OUT! Chamu Chibhabha c Nabi b Dawlat 3 (6)
Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 215/6 in 20 overs | Batting: Mohammad Shahzad 116(67): What an innings that has been for Afghanistan. That man who built it all has stood till the very end. Shahzad was brutal and yet sensible. That is one heck of a knock by him. Afghanistan will remember that for a long time to come. The match consists of two innings and it is safe to say that Afghanistan have emerged winners in the first.
Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 146/3 in 14 overs | Batting: Mohammad Shahzad 100(52), Shafiqullah 1(3): And that’s the completion of the hundred for Mohammad Shahzad! What a destructive knock! Brought it up of just his 52nd delivery! Meanwhile Zimbabwe have taken another seemingly inconsequential wicket! Karim Sadiq falls after scoring a decent hand of 12 of 5 balls. OUT! Karim Sadiq 12(5) c Moor b Chisoro
Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 123/2 in 12 overs | Batting: Mohammad Shahzad 84(46), Karim Sadiq 6(2): Zimbabwe have pegged back another but it barely matters. It looks as if Shahzad would be in just as destructive mood even if he was batting with the No. 11. Nevertheless, it was a good knock by skipper Stanikzai scoring a 12-ball 18. Luke Jongwe got the wicket. OUT! Asghar Stanikzai 18(12) b Jongwe
Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 93/1 in 10 overs | Batting: Mohammad Shahzad 73(41), Asghar Stanikzai 10(7): This is getting painful for Zimbabwe. Mohammad Shahzad has put them to the sword match-after-match but they have not deviced a way to get him out. It’s looking very bad for Zimbabwe at this stage. Afghanistan will aim for nothing short of the 200-run mark from here, especially with Shahzad still at the crease.
Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 45/1 in 7 overs | Batting: Mohammad Shahzad 36(27), Asghar Stanikzai 1(2): That’s the end of Ghani’s struggle. It’s that man Graeme Cremer again who has so valiantly come to Zimbabwe’s rescue time and again. It skidded off the surface and beat Ghani’s inside edge to disturb the timber. Shahzad the important man is still there. Meanwhile, he has become the first batsman to reach a 1,000 T20I runs for Afghanistan and the associate world in general. OUT! Usman Ghani 5(13) b Graeme Cremer
Live Cricket Score Afghanistan 10/0 in 2 overs | Batting: Mohammad Shahzad 9(9), Usman Ghani 1(3): So the early indicators are that Zimbabwe have learnt from their past mistakes and are finally making amends but will they be able to sustain it? The first over Donald Tiripano was nice and tight conceding just three runs. But, Tendai Chisoro relieves the pressure the very next over with Shahzad smacking him for a biggie. Still, a good over apart from that.
Zimbabwe: Peter Moor, Hamilton Masakadza, Chamu Chibhabha, Richmond Mutumbami (wk), Malcolm Waller, Sikandar Raza, Elton Chigumbura (c), Luke Jongwe, Graeme Cremer, Tendai Chisoro, Donald Tiripano
Afghanistan: Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Usman Ghani, Mohammad Nabi, Asghar Stanikzai (c), Gulbadin Naib, Karim Sadiq, Shafiqullah Shafiq, Rashid Khan, Sayed Shirzad, Dawlat Zadran, Amir Hamza
Toss: Zimbabwe have won the toss and chosen to bowl first
Zimbabwe have been unable to close out games after being in a winning position. In the last game they came tantalisingly close to chasing 188 for victory but fell six runs short in the end. Afghanistan will look to seal the series with another win and confirm their improvement at the international level. ALSO READ: Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe 2015-16, 2nd T20I at Sharjah, Preview
Zimbabwe’s bowling has been a concern for a large part of the series. Afghanistan’s bowling has been their strength on the other hand. The equation can be reversed in the batting department where Zimbabwe have been a bit more consistent. The final game of the series promises to be another cracker of a game. Afghanistan’s goal will obviously be to defeat Zimbabwe and stake claim on the series. For Zimbabwe it will be more a matter of pride since the series is already lost.
